Trump aide Stephen Miller suggests Venezuelan oil belongs to US

White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller claimed Venezuela's oil rightfully belongs to the U.S., asserting the country's nationalization of the oil industry was "theft." Miller stated that American ingenuity created the Venezuelan oil industry and its expropriation funded terrorism and drug trafficking. His comments follow President Trump's intensified "maximum pressure" campaign against Venezuela since returning to office in January 2025. Trump announced a blockade on Venezuelan oil tankers, echoing Miller's claims of stolen oil. While U.S. and British companies were involved in early Venezuelan oil exploration, international law recognizes Venezuela's sovereignty over its natural resources. Venezuela nationalized its oil sector in 1976 and further ousted foreign oil projects in 2007, leading to legal challenges and ongoing disputes.